TapTechNews August 5th news, researchers at the University of Leeds in the UK have developed a new type of robot that imitates the shape and movement of climbing vine plants. This robot has a magnetic skin and is expected to change the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and tumors.
The robot is controlled by an external magnet and has extremely high flexibility, and can even bend in an S-shape. This enables it to reach the deepest and most inaccessible parts of organs such as the lungs to treat tumors. This soft and slender robot can stretch during movement and can also pass through narrow spaces that are nearly 40% smaller than its static diameter. Research shows that this helps the robot to shuttle in the narrow and complex channels inside the human body, such as the bronchi.
According to TapTechNews, this small machine called the 'vine robot' uses internal pneumatic expansion and external magnetic control for direction. It has a diameter of only 8 millimeters and is made of a polyethylene substrate wrapped in a silicone layer, with millions of tiny magnetic particles embedded in the silicone layer. These particles are so small that about 20 of them are comparable to the width of a single human hair. Through the control of the external magnetic field, the robot can flexibly bypass large obstacles and successfully complete the navigation of multiple branches in the simulated bronchial model. Researchers said that once it reaches the target position, the robot can be used to collect tissue samples or for treatment, and may eventually lead to better treatment effects.
This breakthrough research result was published in the IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. Researchers said that this new type of robot has the potential to improve the safety and effectiveness of medical procedures from diagnosis to biopsy and treatment, shorten the recovery time, and minimize the surgical risk.